Picus Maximus rostro albo: The largest white-bill
Wood-pecker.

Weighs twenty
ounces; about the size, or somewhat larger than
a Crow. The Bill white as Ivory, three inches
long, and channelled from the basis to the
point: the Iris of the eye yellow: the
hind-part of the Head adorned with a large
peaked crest of scarlet feathers: a crooked
white Stripe runs from the eye on each side
the Neck, towards the Wing: the lower part
of the Back and Wings (except the large
Quill-feathers) are white, all the rest of
the Bird is black.

The Bills of these
Birds are much valued by the Canada Indians,
who make Coronets of 'em for their Princes and
great warriers, by fixing them round a
Wreath, with their points outward. The
Northern Indians having none of these
Birds in their cold country, purchase them
of the Southern People at the price of two,
and sometimes three Buck-shins a Bill.

These Birds
subsist chiefly on Ants, Wood-worms, and other
Insects, which they hew out of rotten trees;
nature having so formed their Bills, that in
an hour or two's time they will raise a
bushel of chips; for which the Spaniards
call 'em Carpenteros.

This Oak is never found but in low moist land;
the Leaves are long, narrow and smooth-edged,
in shape like the Willow: the wood is soft
and course-grained, and of less use than most
of the other kinds of Oak. In mild Winters
they retain their Leaves in Carolina;
but in Virginia they drop.